Dan Feng

Biodata

Background / History

Dan Feng possesses memories and lingering emotions inherited from previous incarnations of Imbibitor Lunae. These give him experience beyond his own lifetime, but he distinguishes their feelings from his own. Xianyu’s face and name repeatedly stir emotions connected to a deceased acquaintance of those earlier incarnations; Dan Feng consciously reminds himself that Xianyu is a different person 5 8 31.

As High Elder, he governs the Vidyadhara with a firm hand and keeps the Dragon Preceptors in line. Some clansmen who oppose him resort to petty political maneuvering, including attempts to shift responsibility for the Alchemy Commission’s flawed psychological test onto him 39.

He accompanies military campaigns and spends much of his remaining time at the Alchemy Commission. His work includes treating wounded soldiers and collecting data on Xianzhou natives becoming mara-struck 5 8.

Appearance

• Hair and eyes: Black hair and blue eyes 43.
• Draconic features: Horns atop his head; can conjure an emerald dragon tail 4 10.
• Clothing: Wears white robes and keeps his clothing and accessories in the latest Luofu fashion 43.
• Grooming: Maintains his scales at considerable expense and promptly replaces a cheap disguise with his own seven-figure-Strale clothing 23 30.

Personality

Outsiders know Dan Feng as cold and arrogant. His friends know a mischievous man who enjoys embarrassing others while maintaining a flawlessly impassive expression. He deliberately exposes Jing Yuan’s invented dinner plans and takes evident pleasure in Jingliu’s romantic awkwardness 23 43.

He is perceptive about his friends but inexperienced in everyday matters. He recognizes Jingliu’s feelings for Xianyu early, yet treats hastily assembled forum advice as romantic expertise. Accustomed to having clan members arrange gifts, he often assumes that spending more money will solve the problem 5 24 31.

His pride extends to combat: when Jingliu offers him a handicap, he refuses to take an unfair advantage. He is also a severe germaphobe. Dust remains intolerable to him even after magical cleaning, and the prospect of nauseated passengers vomiting on his scales makes him stop transporting them immediately 23 30 49.

Beneath his aloof manner, he is attentive and generous toward his friends. He secretly subsidizes Yingxing’s meals, frequently treats the group, and prepares rooms for their overnight visits. His wish to hire attendants for Yingxing reflects concern over the craftsman’s habit of neglecting himself 42 47 48.

Abilities & Skills

Martial Combat

Dan Feng excels in martial pursuits and regularly spars with Jingliu 5 30.

• Uses a spear during their Training Ground duel, matching her through repeated exchanges and anticipating her movements 30.
• Their friendly bouts have occurred every few days since the five friends became close 30.
• Fails to defeat Jingliu in the documented duel; repeated messages from the Alchemy Commission also disrupt the session 31.
• Is described as capable of cutting through Abominations of Abundance with a blade 5.

Coiling Leap

A secret Vidyadhara technique that Dan Feng uses to move himself and several companions at tremendous speed 10 23.

• Conjures an emerald dragon tail while gathering Jing Yuan, Yingxing, and Baiheng for departure 10.
• Carries all three away at a speed described as ten times faster than Baiheng’s Starskiff 23.
• The journey leaves Jing Yuan and Yingxing near vomiting and begins to rouse the drunken Baiheng; Dan Feng stops to protect his scales from them 23.

Cloudhymn Magic

Dan Feng uses cloudhymn techniques for cleaning 49 50.

• Washes the dirt-covered Jing Yuan and Yingxing after battles 49.
• Cleans himself magically, though doing so does not fully relieve his discomfort with dirt 49.
• Returns from the failed cooking attempt with changed clothes and damp hair, apparently having washed himself again 50.

Medicine and Research

His Alchemy Commission duties involve treatment, research, and supervision 5 8 44.

• Treats wounded soldiers during campaigns 5.
• Collects mara-struck data, noting that nearly eighty percent of Xianzhou natives begin showing signs after age eight hundred 8.
• Is ordered by Teng Xiao to personally oversee a careful rewrite of the psychological test 44.
• His medical role does not translate into cooking skill: he admits no practical knowledge of nourishing soup before convincing himself that it should resemble brewing a tonic 49.

Inherited Memories

Memories from earlier Imbibitor Lunae incarnations provide historical knowledge but also carry emotions he does not regard as his own 5 8.

• Recalls the Former Marshal’s friendship with an earlier Imbibitor Lunae 50.
• Recounts the Former Marshal’s dealings with Yubie and a drinking gathering with the five High Elders, after which the Vidyadhara formally allied with the Xianzhou 50.
• Must consciously restrain inherited emotions when discussing the Former Marshal or encountering Xianyu 31 50.

Equipment / Items

• Jade Abacus — Used for messages, exchanging contact details, and researching courtship advice. He sends Xianyu Jingliu’s address through it 10 24.
• Training spear — An ordinary spear selected from the Training Ground rack to match Jingliu’s choice of a practice sword 30.
• Private treasury — Approximately a thousand-odd square meters; contains valuables inherited from earlier High Elders 48 50.
• Thousand-Year Ginseng — The cheapest item he finds in his treasury when selecting a gift for Teng Xiao. After Teng Xiao refuses it, Dan Feng offers it for Jingliu’s meal for Xianyu; Yingxing breaks it while washing it, and it is subsequently boiled into ginseng water 44 48 49 50.
• Household attendants — Prepare guest rooms, arrange kitchen utensils, carry ingredients, and deliver food. Dan Feng considers sixteen attendants the minimum appropriate for a High Elder, though he brings only eight to the cooking preparations 48 49 50.

Relationships

• Jingliu — Close friend, frequent sparring partner, and the subject of his matchmaking efforts. He recognizes her affection for Xianyu and gives her repeated—often impractical—courtship advice 5 23 30 31.
• Xianyu — Meets him at the hot-pot gathering and arranges for him to escort Jingliu home. Xianyu evokes inherited memories, but Dan Feng insists on distinguishing him from the person those memories concern 4 8 10 31.
• Jing Yuan — Friend and matchmaking collaborator; also a frequent target of his teasing. Dan Feng exposes his fabricated plans and later tries to blame him for failing to inform Baiheng about Jingliu’s feelings 23 24 43 47.
• Yingxing — Close friend whose health and eating habits concern him. Dan Feng pays most of the cost of secretly arranging meals at the Artisanship Commission cafeteria and proposes hiring eight people to care for him 42 47.
• Baiheng — Close friend whom he hosts at his residence. He and the others mistakenly assume someone has already told her about Jingliu’s crush; she later joins their matchmaking efforts 47 48.
• Teng Xiao — General who holds him responsible for supervising the psychological test’s revision. Dan Feng understands the criticism hidden in Teng Xiao’s apparent praise and unsuccessfully offers him ginseng 39 44.
• Dragon Preceptors — Political opponents whom he routinely frustrates in argument. His closest friends openly side with him in these disputes 39 47 48.

Story Role / Major Arcs

The Abomination Gift and Hot-Pot Gathering

Before the gathering, Jingliu asks Dan Feng what to give a good junior who has never visited a battlefield. He mentions a Cloud Knight’s plan to give his lover a dead Abomination of Abundance, intending it only as an example. Jingliu takes the suggestion seriously, leaving him deeply uncomfortable when Baiheng later ridicules precisely that kind of gift 5.

During dinner, he arranges for Jingliu to sit beside Xianyu and questions Xianyu about his work and romantic interests. At the end of the meal, he asks Xianyu to take Jingliu home, then removes the remaining friends with Coiling Leap to leave the pair alone 8 9 10.

Matchmaking Jingliu and Xianyu

Dan Feng recruits Jing Yuan and Yingxing to help Jingliu pursue Xianyu. Their overnight forum research produces a guide recommending money, heroic rescues, swordsmanship, and flowers. They later spy on the pair in disguise, and Dan Feng advises Jingliu that Xianyu’s apparent lack of enthusiasm for her money means she has not given him enough 23 24 27 31.

Psychological-Test Reprimand

While Dan Feng prioritizes sparring and matchmaking over his subordinates’ messages, the Alchemy Commission rapidly produces a test of more than six hundred questions. Teng Xiao summons him, rejects his gift, and orders him to supervise a slower, more careful rewrite personally 39 44.

The Failed Meal

After Baiheng joins the matchmaking group, the friends decide Jingliu should cook for Xianyu. Dan Feng supplies ginseng, expensive ingredients, and utensils, but their attempt at fish soup fails. They order hot pot instead and add the ginseng water to both Xianyu’s portion and their own broth 48 49 50.

Dan Feng sends an attendant to deliver Xianyu’s meal. He and the other four subsequently become drowsy and lose consciousness. Xianyu also falls asleep after eating and is told by the great ice figure that he has been poisoned; the passage does not establish what caused it 50.

Notable Quotes

“She won't make a move unless someone gives her a push. What, are you scared?” 23

“If he refuses to accept it, that just means you haven't thrown enough at him.” 31